IFN- τ Displays Anti-Inflammatory Effects on Staphylococcus aureus Endometritis via Inhibiting the Activation of the NF- κ B and MAPK Pathways in Mice

Biomed Res Int. 2017:2017:2350482. doi: 10.1155/2017/2350482. Epub 2017 Feb 26.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of IFN-τ on endometritis using a mouse model of S. aureus-induced endometritis and to elucidate the mechanism of action underlying these effects. In the present study, the effect of IFN-τ on S. aureus growth was monitored by turbidimeter at 600 nm. IFN-τ did not affect S. aureus growth. The histopathological changes indicated that IFN-τ had a protective effect on uterus tissues with S. aureus infection. The ELISA and qPCR results showed the production of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 was decreased with IFN-τ treatment. In contrast, the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was increased. We further studied the signaling pathway associated with these observations, and the qPCR results showed that the expression of TLR2 was repressed by IFN-τ. Furthermore, the western blotting results showed the phosphorylation of IκB, NF-κB p65, and MAPKs (p38, JNK, and ERK) was inhibited by IFN-τ treatment. The results suggested that IFN-τ may be a potential drug for the treatment of uterine infection due to S. aureus or other infectious inflammatory diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endometritis / drug therapy*
  • Endometritis / microbiology
  • Endometritis / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / microbiology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Interferon Type I / administration & dosage*
  • Interferon Type I / metabolism
  • Mice
  • NF-kappa B / biosynthesis
  • Pregnancy Proteins / administration & dosage*
  • Pregnancy Proteins / metabolism
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / genetics
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / biosynthesis
  • Transcription Factor RelA / biosynthesis
  • Uterus / drug effects
  • Uterus / microbiology
  • Uterus / pathology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Interferon Type I
  • NF-kappa B
  • Pregnancy Proteins
  • Rela protein, mouse
  • Tlr2 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • interferon tau